from the ground up
Learning to love and learn from the Land at Butler Montessori
BY DON VOGEL
Last May , in the shade of a picnic pavilion at Sandy Point State Park , Butler Montessori students proudly walked before an audience of teachers and students from across Montgomery County to receive the school ’ s Green School certificate .
The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education ( MAEOE ) awards Green School status to public and independent institutions that satisfy an extensive list of requirements . As of 2024 , MAEOE recognizes 654 1 of the approximately 2,200 schools throughout the state 2 as Green
Schools . By 2028 , MAEOE and the State of Maryland hope to have 50 % of schools reach Green School certification . 3 To be acknowledged green , schools must document practices that fall into three broad objectives : 1 . Systemic Sustainability ; 2 . Student-Driven Sustainability Practices ; and 3 . Community Partnerships , Awards and Special Recognition .
To demonstrate their commitment to these categories of environmental education and stewardship , some of the current 654
Children enjoy playing in the sandpit , just above the banks of Steppey Creek . Inset : students Identify and display leaves found on campus .
Green Schools may have needed to reframe their approach to learning , add new experiences for students , reconfigure their campus , or emphasize outdoor learning opportunities . Not so Butler Montessori . Long before Maryland instituted its Green School program , Butler Montessori students learned to love , respect , and protect the land that embraces their school . The children acquire these traits both organically and by design .
Play is a child ’ s first , and perhaps , best teacher . Butler Montessori ’ s children have ample time outside to explore . Students climb the trees growing wild in the woods and those planted on campus . They feel the benefits of shade early and will later intuitively understand how trees mitigate heat island effects . Students build forts with the resources they discover for themselves . Each classroom features a rack of boots outside the door . Booted feet allow children to walk through damp meadows , wade through creeks , explore the edge of ponds , stomp through snow and mud . With all senses engaged , they experience the complex relationships among plants , soil , water , sun , and air .
Adults on campus guide the students during their independent explorations to work together to build relationships as well as bridges and forts , to create , not destroy . Butler Montessori ’ s community has built and maintained trails , bridges , docks , sandboxes , pavilions , and playgrounds that fit into and incorporate the natural
48 plenty I autumn harvest 2024